DTV Changeover Date Maybe Missed

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burningman_77

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Dang!!! I can't believe that they're out of coupons! I just moved to a university and couldn't bring my t.v. (car was too small), and I was going to head back home to pick it up... With the hopes that I could buy a converter box... Ugggggh.

Although, in response to the article, anyone who has watched t.v., especially non-cable t.v., has know about this for a long, long time.
 
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brandon

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Dtv delay

For the past year they have been scrolling "Digital TV switch on Feb 17, 2009" all over broadcast TV programming. Now they want to change the date and REALLY confuse the public. People will think their TV is working/digital compatible once Feb 17th passes since they have ASSUMED the switch occurred. I don't think this is a very smart idea. Stick with the date and worry about the coupons later. A few months of no TV isn't the end of the world!
 

b7spectra

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Yeah, Osama, er, ah Obama is axking for a possible push back. Guess too many of his supporters haven't been paying attention to the government paid commercials for the last year and a half telling them no more analog in 09!
 

gmclam

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ATSC in the USA

Keep in mind there is nothing (but your equipment) keeping you from watching digital signals NOW. The so-called "switch-over" date is really an analog cut-off date. And moving the date will make a bigger mess of things than we have already. Many broadcasters are "waiting" until an analog channel vacates before they can move their digital signal, increase power and/or increase their coverage area.
 
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Yeah, I guess the public didn't have enough notice. It's only been talked about for freakin' years! And of course in an Obama America, the government OWES you a free or discounted convertor box. GOD forbid you should have to buy one on your own. Don't get me wrong, I got a coupon, and used it. If you hand me money, I will take it. But the whole socialist principle is leading us down the wrong path in my view. We know that he thinks we deserve "free" health care, education, and maybe to have our mortgages paid too, so he might as well just throw in a free digital TV while he's at it (I prefer 1080P LCD units, thank you).

But to stay on point, I for one can't wait until all but one of my local stations stop polluting the VHF band (all but one is UHF @ digital).

And let's be honest, would it hurt anyone to go without TV for a bit? It might actually allow their dying brain cells to make a recovery. I watch some news, some educational things, and that's it. The kids watch QUBO, a religious cartoon network where all the characters have morals. On the whole, TV is complete, mindless garbage overall, and I am not sure what harm Lord Obama thinks will come to those who would suffer a week without it.

There has been enough talk about the "switchover" to make a horse choke, ENOUGH! Turn analog off!
 
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DaveNF2G

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The government has no business buying TV sets or accessories for the public. Obama's comments about "the poor" especially rankle. So what if some people won't be able to afford to watch TV for a while? TV is a luxury, not a right. Read a newspaper, listen to a transistor radio, save up for a TV if you want one. That is the American way, not free handouts from a socialist nanny state.
 

wlmr

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Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act Passes

Looks like not all the Analog TV channels were going to dark right away.

Radio Resource Magazine article quote, "Congress passed and the President signed legislation that will permit the short-term extension of analog broadcasting by full power television on certain channels for a 30 day period starting after February 17th."

Their full article
http://radioresourcemag.com/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=3724

Reading through article I get the impression that the legislation doesn't mean your soap opera will keep running but in an emergency the TV station will broadcast info and during the rest of the time you'll get a continuous "here's how to go to digital" message on the screen.

This legislation happened in December, long before the latest Obama statements.

Note: Moderators, please correct this message if you think necessary, I wasn't sure how to post this info, & don't want to violate the above magazine's copyright on the article.
 
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N_Jay

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I think a lot of people have forgotten that the coupons were supposed to be paid for out of the proceeds of the spectrum auction.
 

epdret

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I would welcome this delay for 3 reasons:

Weather - Not exactly the best time of the year to go outdoors and erect a tower. I've got a 40' crankup tower and a conventional "Top of the Line" RS antenna to erect. A trench for the tower must be dug for the tower mount, concrete to mix and pour to anchor the tower base, and some simple stabilizing guying to anti-sway the antenna itself ; and, actually the easiest part, a ladder to climb to the one-story ranch roof to hardwire the sytem. According to mapping printouts received my 50' high antenna should pull in HD signals from all over as it did w/analog. BTW, I have already purchased 2 converter boxes.

Geography - While at a relatively high (1350' above SL) semi-rural location, one would think that I would be capable of receiving a good analog or HD signal. With the system I designed (described above) amplified I should be able to pull in local and longer distance programming from NYC, PHL, BGM and maybe the Lehigh Valley.

Cable vs Satellite - I have once again had to make a key decision based upon what is available to me; one local cable co., satellite companies more plentiful but trees in the way. I would like to upgrade to a higher tiered service, not necessarily premiums like HBO or Showtime. Comcast would be more workable for me but they are not available. No FIOS here in this rocky territory; local gas company would not even run a main through my area even though 2 local schools would be on it.

While I'm not supportive of Obama, I would have to agree with him this time - postpone the switch to a milder month - like May or June or even October!
 

mdulrich

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The government has no business buying TV sets or accessories for the public. Obama's comments about "the poor" especially rankle. So what if some people won't be able to afford to watch TV for a while? TV is a luxury, not a right. Read a newspaper, listen to a transistor radio, save up for a TV if you want one. That is the American way, not free handouts from a socialist nanny state.

But then how would the masses watch Oprah? :roll:

Mike
 

shaft

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I would welcome this delay for 3 reasons:

Weather - Not exactly the best time of the year to go outdoors and erect a tower. I've got a 40' crankup tower and a conventional "Top of the Line" RS antenna to erect. A trench for the tower must be dug for the tower mount, concrete to mix and pour to anchor the tower base, and some simple stabilizing guying to anti-sway the antenna itself ; and, actually the easiest part, a ladder to climb to the one-story ranch roof to hardwire the sytem. According to mapping printouts received my 50' high antenna should pull in HD signals from all over as it did w/analog. BTW, I have already purchased 2 converter boxes.

Geography - While at a relatively high (1350' above SL) semi-rural location, one would think that I would be capable of receiving a good analog or HD signal. With the system I designed (described above) amplified I should be able to pull in local and longer distance programming from NYC, PHL, BGM and maybe the Lehigh Valley.

Cable vs Satellite - I have once again had to make a key decision based upon what is available to me; one local cable co., satellite companies more plentiful but trees in the way. I would like to upgrade to a higher tiered service, not necessarily premiums like HBO or Showtime. Comcast would be more workable for me but they are not available. No FIOS here in this rocky territory; local gas company would not even run a main through my area even though 2 local schools would be on it.

While I'm not supportive of Obama, I would have to agree with him this time - postpone the switch to a milder month - like May or June or even October!

I agree because the past 2 years alone were not enough time for folks to prepare, nevermind the fact that its been delayed in the past. :roll:
 

K8TEK

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I agree because the past 2 years alone were not enough time for folks to prepare, nevermind the fact that its been delayed in the past. :roll:
Exactly!
 

JoeyC

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While I'm not supportive of Obama, I would have to agree with him this time - postpone the switch to a milder month - like May or June or even October!

The time of the year is irrelevant. There have been several cycles of the seasons since this was first announced. If people choose to wait till the last minute to prepare, thats their stupidity.

I too say off with the analog already.
 

gmclam

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Digital TV is more political than technical

I would welcome this delay for 3 reasons:
Weather
Geography -
Cable vs Satellite -
The end of analog broadcasting has been moved many times. The most recent date was 12/31/2006. There was much debate and compromise to agree on 2/17/2009. Lots of lawmakers liked it because it would be after the Super Bowl (I am not making this up) and after the end of the then current legistlators/president. In other words; they intentionally set a date which would make it an issue for the next administration.

I have been only watching TV via ATSC for several years. I put up an antenna when the weather was good. The time of year does not change the geography. I can not handle (especially paying for) the degraded quality provided by cable and DSS.

It should be noted that the current analog sunset date was part of a budget balancing act a few years ago. Money from the spectrum auction was planned into the spending. Lawmakers were originally upset that any of those proceeds would have to be used to help consumers make the switch, and want(ed) to get by spending as little as possible.
 

kf4lhp

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Nevermind that most of the transmitter manufacturers have discontinued support and parts availability for their analog transmitters.

And, oh yeah, most PA tubes for analog transmitters have been discontinued.

Stations are NOT going to sink money into keeping their analog service operable. Just not a wise business decision, especially in this market. Not to mention dropping analog service means a significant cut in a station's electrical costs.
 

Wahoos4Life

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Yeah, Osama, er, ah Obama is axking for a possible push back. Guess too many of his supporters haven't been paying attention to the government paid commercials for the last year and a half telling them no more analog in 09!

How clever you wrote Osama instead of Obama.

It is a good idea

People who had Basic cable tv, may have just recently lost there jobs, and are going to have to cut there cable, wouldnt they like to atleast have over the air tv?

Not to mention, it would be fair to only wait for more coupons to give to those people, who would love to have that $40 for something else
 
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